By Marc McGowan
Richmond’s reluctance to part with pick six could force North Melbourne to use their No.2 selection in next month’s AFL draft or find another taker.
There is a strong group of midfielders, including Sam Lalor, Brisbane Lions father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft, Finn O’Sullivan, Jagga Smith, Sid Draper, Harvey Langford and Josh Smillie, set to be chosen early in the draft, which has put the Kangaroos in a challenging spot.
Sam Lalor is firming as the player Richmond are likely to take with the coveted first draft pick.Credit: AFL Photos
North already have Luke Davies-Uniacke, Jy Simpkin, George Wardlaw, Harry Sheezel, Colby McKercher and even Will Phillips, and just traded for Luke Parker, but need key position players at both ends.
That is why the Roos are open to offloading pick two for multiple later selections, where they would slide only a few picks back in the draft.
The Tigers boast an extraordinary seven first-round selections, as well as the coveted opening pick of the second round on day two.
Richmond’s almost unprecedented draft hand – picks one, six, 10, 11, 18, 20, 23 and 24 – owes largely to them agreeing to trade Daniel Rioli (Gold Coast), Shai Bolton (Fremantle) and Liam Baker (West Coast).
However, the Tigers’ second-round selection could fetch them a future first-rounder, and reduce their number of picks to seven.
Richmond are tipped to use the No.1 selection on GWV Rebels rising star Lalor, who is being likened to Dustin Martin for his physicality, power, skills and ability to impact the game equally as a midfielder or forward. This masthead ranked Lalor at the top of our draft rankings at the start of this month.
Carlton star Sam Walsh’s second cousin, hard-running midfielder O’Sullivan, and Smith, the draft’s best ball magnet, are also in that mix, but most recruiters who spoke to this masthead are certain Lalor will be the first player taken.
Another factor is the Tigers’ interest in 195-centimetre Patrick Cripps clone Josh Smillie, who hails from junior club Park Orchards, where Richmond list boss Blair Hartley is a coach and Hartley’s son plays.
Smillie looms as Richmond’s selection if they maintain pick six, but there is less certainty he would still be there four selections later.
North Melbourne are linked to Gippsland Power’s athletic interceptor Alix Tauru, who looms as the draft’s biggest bolter, and Sandringham Dragons key forward Harry Armstrong, but both players should be available at a lower selection in the top 10.
Melbourne (picks five and nine), St Kilda (seven and eight) and Richmond (10) could also consider Tauru or Armstrong with one of their top-10 picks, while another tall defender, Luke Trainor, looms as a later first-round choice.
The Demons used most of their draft collateral trading up for Essendon’s No.9 selection and are not expected to try to move up again, leaving the Saints as the likeliest potential trade partner for the Roos’ pick two if nothing eventuates with the Tigers.
North Melbourne lost Tarryn Thomas this year, so could select a midfielder-forward type at No.2 instead of reaching for a taller bookend, unless the plan is for Sheezel to spend more time in attack than in an on-ball role.
Some rival recruiters believe the Kangaroos’ bulk drafting of midfielders in the past five years means they might need to consider their list needs instead of taking the best available player, as clubs typically do when selecting at the pointy end of the draft.
Another option is North using their future first-rounder to trade into the top 10 for a second selection, meaning they could take a midfielder first and still address their key-position need.
That would require a team to trade out of a highly touted, deep and even draft, so the Roos may need to offer a sweetener for that to happen.
One of Richmond or North Melbourne could place a bid on Ashcroft with the first two picks, but the Lions are certain to match either way.
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